Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
Have you ever had one of those dates with destiny where you have one chance to say what you mean, no do overs, but you flub it? It happened to my mom this weekend at a Paul Ryan event. Afterwards, she reached out to him with her rosary in hand. The Secret Service tried to take it away, Paul came back and took it. He asked, "are you sure you want to give me your rosary?"
"Yes," she said, "remember the women!"
Ugg! Mom!
Remember the women?
She could have said anything else, and felt better about it. How about: "remember the women who support religious liberty," or "remember the millions of women who are with you," or "remember the women who are sick and tired of being told free birth control and abortions is all they care about".
Mom thinks he understood her...she's hoping at least. But, I'd like to give her a bit of a do-over through Ricochet, on the off chance that somebody who knows somebody might read this.
So, Mr. Ryan, the lovely silver-haired woman who gave you a rosary on Sunday was not some Nancy Pelosi/Joe Biden Catholic plant trying to confront you. She is a sincere supporter who sees you as a champion for women like her and our First Amendment Rights. She supports you, she thanks you, and she prays for you. Keep up the good work!
Anyone else have a do-over to share?
It was a great event by the way. Ryan was inspiring in the way true leaders are. Nothing about him seemed like a smarmy politician. There were some lines I'd heard before, of course, but he really seemed to be talking to us. I especially liked when he said he and Mitt were ready to take responsibility instead of assigning blame. Then he referenced last year's Missouri River flood. It was an incredible flood, but not much ink was spent on it. It wasn't a devastation story because the people of the area took personal responsibility to protect their property. They did not wait for FEMA or the National Guard. Instead, neighbors, family, friends, businesses and community organizations banded together to do massive preemptive work. I liked that Ryan recognized that work.
My husband noticed the OtterBox on Paul's phone was camo. And we also noticed that Paul pointed in the right directions when he named the three states in the tri-state area. There were many little things like that. They made me think of him as a citizen politician. He was very professional, but seemed to be a sincere servant of the people.
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Apr '11
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
Aaw . . . your mom is sweet. I bet he knew exactly what she meant. Pelosi/Biden Catholic rosaries have little O symbols instead of beads, right?
When I first met my favorite singer/songwriter, Carolyn Arends, after a concert, she was signing CDs with a black Sharpie. When it was my turn, I blurted out, "Could you sign mine with this special sparkly pen I brought?" She graciously agreed, but I was mortified. I could barely get out anything else -- maybe a quick, "I just love your music."
I've been lucky to have a few do-overs with her since then, and we have laughed together about "special sparkly pens" and other such goofy things.
May '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
Thanks Justine, I'm going to share the O symbol crack with mom! Your sparkly pen story is great. Why do we get so tongue-tied? It's awesome you got your do-over! Reminds me of when I met Louise Mandrel at the Grand Ole Opry. She use to have a variety show with her sisters (Barbara and ?) on TV when I was little. I said, "I liked you best because you have brown hair like me". Face palm! She was very sweet, said I must have been very young when the show was on, and took some pictures with me. Even with the extra time I couldn't recover. I came back with, "my dad thought you were the prettiest". Again with the creepy! Sheesh :)
Aug '11
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
About fifteen years ago, while on a "dog and pony" tour of Wall Street firms with my CEO to drum up support for our company's stock, I was introduced to Matty Simmons, producer of Animal House and all the National Lampoon movies. He and his entourage were visiting the same investment bank to raise money for his next film. When I shook his hand, I clammed up, then finally squeaked out a "Nice meeting you." What I was searching for, before my wits went all goofy, was "Eric Stratton. Rush Chairman. Damn glad to meet you." It came to me less than a minute later, but the opportunity had passed.
May '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
Doug that would have been perfect! I love Animal House. There has got to be a name for when the perfect thing to say comes to mind right after the moment has passed. Anybody know?
Mar '11
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
"Paul pointed in the right directions when he named the three states in the tri-state area. " Heck, yes, that's important! You can laugh it off as Ryan simply being a map geek, but a person who knows where they are oriented at any given moment has spent considerable times studying maps and the local / regional / national area. That is defintely a plus.
May '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
Yes! And, it didn't come off as rehearsed. They were just natural hand gestures when he was talking...not just for show. I was very impressed by him.
Nov '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
Congressman Duncan Hunter visited our church in San Diego years ago--he was a former member. I saw him out in the parking lot, greeted him, and called out, "We talked about you in our history class!"
He politely acknowledged the statement, but obviously did not know how to reply.
Jun '12
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
LOL. I thought only my Mom blurted out stuff like that! Great post!
Feb '12
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
The term is "[esprit] d'escalier"; literally "wit of the staircase" referencing how you come up with the best response after the party as you're heading to bed.
Edited on October 25, 2012 at 6:10pmMay '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
:) sawatdeeka! Don't worry, I think most politicians Love to hear about their impact in the classroom!
May '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
Thanks CJS...I can't wait to do it to my kids ;)
That's perfect Amy. Now I just need to practice pronouncing it so i don't miss my moment when it comes! Thanks.
Oct '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
You were fast, my snappy retorts or cleverisms usually occur to me in the wee hours of the morning a week later.
Edited on October 25, 2012 at 6:06pmFeb '11
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
I wish I could go to a Paul Ryan event without having to leave my oh-so-blue state. New York, with the highest taxes! The most Lyme disease! The crumbling infrastructure! The infuriating governor! The scarcity of Presidential campaigners!
Feb '11
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
And you realize, of course, that Paul Ryan has probably already taken a lap around those Rosary beads...
Sep '12
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
@ Justine - "Pelosi/Biden Catholic rosaries have little O symbols instead of beads, right?" Oh, that made me laugh! Thanks!
Feb '12
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
Katie O: Thanks CJS...I can't wait to do it to my kids ;)
That's perfect Amy. Now I just need to practice pronouncing it so i don't miss my moment when it comes! Thanks. · 6 minutes ago
Let me help you with that: e-SPREE des-kal-i-YE.
On a related note, I had jury duty this past Monday, and I have to say that few things drive me nuts the way southerners and mid-westerners pronounce voir dire. It's a "voi" sound like "voila" followed by "deer."
May '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
This was at the Sioux City event, right? I thought that looked like Bev's in the background. (I hail from just across the river in SSC, though I'm now living in Battleground Ohio ... 8^)
Great story, Katie. My suggestion for the answer to #4 above (what's the name for when the perfect thing to say comes to mind right after the moment has passed) was going to be "my entire life".
May '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
It was Sioux City. It's nice when politicians stop by that part of Iowa, it gives those of us in "red" Nebraska and South Dakota a chance to participate pretty easily.
Story of my life too George!
Oct '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
This is our chance to put Ricochet on the map!
"That's the website where the very useful term ________ was coined to describe when the perfect thing to say comes to mind right after the moment has passed."
I'll have a good one in a week or so.
Jun '10
Re: Mom Meets Paul Ryan. Ever Had One of Those Moments? Need a Do-Over?
yeah, major do-over. I went to a rfundraiser/rally for GW Bush in 2004, and was able to work my way to the front for the handshake part, and he reached out, I shook his hand and just stared at him. I could not say a thing. I meant to say "God bless you", "Kick Kerry's a**", or "we love you" etc., etc., anything but just staring at him like an idiot.
Would love a chance to meet him again.